Stony Brook, N.Y. - Eager to jump at the opportunity to help those in need, Stony Brook Athletics answered the call last Friday to assist Bethpage Federal Credit Union, which was seeking groups for its fourth annual Turkey Drive.

Last Thursday afternoon, Stony Brook Athletics heard that Bethpage was in need of groups to help with Friday's Turkey Drive. Immediately, the department got the word out to student-athletes, who jumped at the opportunity to help the cause. The entire Stony Brook baseball team plus members of the swimming & diving, women's lacrosse, men's tennis and men's soccer teams as well as the cheerleading and dance teams and Wolfie all volunteered for a two-hour shift to wrap and box all the items and load them onto trucks to disperse around the island to help those in need.

This year, the Turkey Drive was expanded to provide essential items, including non-perishable food, cleaning supplies and baby items, to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

The Turkey Drive benefitted Island Harvest, Long Island's largest hunger relief organization, which delivers millions of pounds of food each year to a network of 570 food pantries, soup kitchens and other non-profit organizations.